* LIBRARY OF CONGKESS. I 



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I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. J 



STARTLING INCIDENTS 



IN THE 



LIFE OF A LABY! 

THE EVENTFUL 



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[nee hoppin.] 



COMPRISING 

A THRILLING ROMANCE 

IN REAL LIFE. 

Embodying in its melo-dramatic and mysterious develop- 
ments the most flagrant and diabolical plots ever 
concocted by human fiends and carried out by 
persevering villiany, claiming as dramatis 
persona in these scenes of dark endeavors 
(to ruin the domestic peace of a de- 
fenceless woman) the soi disant and 
pretended distingues of the 
United States. 

Moreover, 

A very concise, 

but graphic delineation 

of the morals, manners, official delinquency, 1 

and mysterious modus operandi of New York officials. 



FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS, 



'$6 y 






*> 



PREFATORY REMARKS. 

For several months prior to the first of September my 
leisure was occupied in writing out the prominent inci- 
dents of my past life, but in strict accordance with an 
evil genus which has apparently ever been an attendent 
upon my pathway ; as I had about completed my manu- 
script and prepared it for the press, my writing desk 
was invaded and the result of my labors combined with 
other papers mysteriously disappeared ! — Inasmuch as I 
shall not attempt to re-write what I had then written, I 
shall publish the synopsis of my last manuscript, and 
leave to the imagination of my readers the filling up of 
what is omitted in the present writing. 

As to my motives in this presenting matter seemingly 
of a private nature to the gaze of the public, I would 
state, in order that I may forstall that spirit of misrepre- 
sentation which has ever been a curse to me, that in the 
first place, I desire, not only for my own satisfaction, 
but those friends, from whom I have been the recipient 
of many kindnesses, to make a full and sufficient expose 
of all circumstances connected with my misfortunes and 
my family, and allow thereby the weight of censure fall 
where it justly belongs, and secondly to provide in some 
manner against pecuniary contingencies which may oc- 
cur without being met by a timely foresight : — 

Moreover, having been robbed by the Judicial and 
Constabulary Officials of New York of all my wardrobe, 
and jewelry, as will be shown in this publication, I am 
but in pecuniary circumstances to publish the very 
lengthy manuscript I had written, even had it not so 
mysteriously disappeared ; The subjoined synopsis how- 
ever, may in some degree give an idea, mere particular 
to certain persons, of what I had written 

JEANNETTE H. TAYLOR. 



STARTLING INCIDENTS 

IN THE 

LIFE OF A LADY, 

COMPRISING A THRILLING 

ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE, 

embodying in its melodramatic and mysterious develop- 
ments the most flagrant and diabolical plots ever con- 
cocted by human fiends and carried out by persevering 
villainy, claiming as dramatis personce in the scenes of 
dark endeavors (to ruin the domestic peace of a defence- 
less woman) the soi-di&ant and pretended distingues of 
the United States ! 

As a concise manifesto of the contents of this publica- 
tion — which will speedily be received from the office of 
the publisher — may be presented the subjoined spice- 
legium, graphically portrayed by the lady's own hand : 

Chapter I. Succinct auto-biography ; Marriage at 
17; A house divided against itself; Insiduous foes of 
the domestic hearth ; A conspiracy, comprising hotel 
insidents at Newport R. I., and wedding extraordinary 
of an officer of the old United States Bank ; Hotel life 
in New England ; Providence without providence ; The 
fatal scheme ; The wiles of a railroad contractor ; A 
sinner in the garb of a saint ; Slanderous tongues and 
willing ears. 

Chapter II. Change of scene ; a " minor sea story" 
identified with the sunny banks of the Hudson river ; 
life in Poughkeepsie ; hotel views from Market street ; 
Hyde Park and Pleasant Valley ; the tempters tempted ; 
profferred desertion of family and elopement to Europe; 
College Hill ; a doctor's predilection for dimity ; thee 
and thou, and spare diet ; the wilderness of Zin ; a 
landlady's pretty daughter ; an unexpected event. 

Chapter III. The old City Hotel ; Family interfer- 
ence; a landlord's subterfuge; Reappearance of the 
railroad contractor ; " The deformed Transformed ;" A 
new phase ; The Erie railroad in the ascendant ; The 



French boarding school ; The introduction ; " Coming' 
events cast their shadows before;" A vision of Nica- 
ragua and 200,000 muskets; Compact; Mysteries of 
management — of railroads in particular. 

Chapter IV, The scene changes to Newport ; 1 he 
family conspiracy ; Intercepted letters ; Five to one ; The 
Knight of Laurel Hill and Jamaica Ginger ; His malici- 
ous advice and perfidy ; Midnight escape to New York, 
City Hotel ; Rise in railroad iron and depression in 
stocks , a contract maker a contract breaker, a villain's 
promise, Return to Newport, An old maid's conscience, 
"Double Faces, the effects ot grief — continued duplicity 
of the Knight of Laurel Hill and Ginger Schnapps, The 
plot thickens. 

Chapter V. Abrupt departure, Arrival at Philadel- 
phia, United States Hotel, A lawyer's revenge for unre- 
quited love, The farce of the rejected suitor, False 
pretences, Bribery, The mysteries of midnight, the five 
mile ride, Might over right, and wealth over weakness, 
The plot successful, How far money may change an 
astute doctor's opinion of insanity ; A home with mani- 
acs, Reminiscences of family duplicity, The effects ot 
griefs 

Chapter VI. Fourteen months confinement as a 
lunatic, minute description of the insane asylum, the 
influence of money, how a liberal subscription to the 
maniac's museum may change the phase of lunacy, a 
steward's love and matron's response, thee and thou, 
white neckerchiefs and piety in drab, a doctor's apprecia- 
tion of insane love, the integrity of insane ears, efforts 
to escape detection, arrival from Europe of a director of 
the United States bank, perfidious manifestation of a 
fashionable sister's love, her clandestine departure, three 
more dreary months, liberty at last, new friends and few 
friends, my sister in London , Pea body. 

Chapter VII. Once more on the banks of the Hudson, 
a Christmas on the ice, homoeopathic pills adminisiered 
for soul and body, escape with loss of baggage, Albany, 
an oasis in the desert of life in the shape of a disinterested 
friend ; arrival at Syracuse ; less thee and thou, more 
piety and less provision ; the parson's family ; cold 
rooms and colder consciences. 

Chapter VIII. Fourteen month's village life in 
Western New York ; more bribery ; a sister's love man- 



6 



ifested in a peculiar manner ; her <• amiable" letters ; 
re-appearance of Jamaica Ginger, starvation recom- 
mended as productive of insanity, Ananias and Saphira 
tempted by filthy lucre, their scheme thwarted, a consci- 
ence-striken husband's policy, poverty. 

Chapter IX. Change ot residence, the domicile of 
the deacon, more starvation, scandal and predestination, 
the deacon's dream, abusive visit from a sister and bank 
director, plot defeated, the wicked widow, morpihne, a 
donation party, the cabin of the cobbler, employment as 
copyist by a quack doctor, a pittance and abrupt depart- 
ure, a journey, frieudless and alone, from the salts of 
of Snlina to the sanctity of Rhode Island. 

Chapter X. A miserly old uncle and meddling old 
maid, the wanderer received for a brief season, misery 
patched with proverbs, and stale precepts proffered in 
place of pity, mysterious manilestation of maternal 
love, devout members of the anti-slavery society, all 
sympathy for black and no sympathy for white, temper- 
ance carried on with ardent spirits. 

Chapter XI. Eight Months seclusion, total desertion, 
scene changes again to Philadelphia, apprentiship to 
mantumaking, misery, the secret of success and rrystery 
of poverty, virtue's reward, the plct of the broker, his 
nerves buoyed up with the essence of Jamaica Ginger, 
his discomfiture, Independence square, revelations, events 
thicken, a fashionable boarding house, the second attempt 
of the broker, the man milliner and millinery toil, scenes 
hehind the curtain, the starvation of the working girl. 

Chapter XI II. Third appearance of the broker, his 
vile attempt to prevent an interview between husband 
and wife, the villain's offer ; a visit to New York; the 
broker defeated ; a scene at the American hotel ; a fa- 
shionable boarding house : a school for scandal ; fourth 
appearance of the broker ; a preferred trip to California 
with adequate means, as a compensation tor desertion of 
bed and board ; a kind-hearted lawyer ; a friend in 
need ; interview with an attorney general ; false hopes ; 
the continued persecution and perfidy of the Knight of 
Laurel Hill and professor, of ginger. 

Chapter XIII. Providence, a dying husband, his con- 
trition, his funeral " respected" by a fashionable sister's 
fashionable ball, the kind-hearted lawyer ; efforts for a 
family reconciliation defeated, return again to the banks 



of the Hudson river, outraged hospitality, a false friend, 
robbery, return to Philadelphia, a visit again to New 
York, the railroad contractor, his perfidy, New York 
hotel, a monosylabic Frenchman, an effort of honest 
labor defeated by family pride, family interference, a 
trip to Boston, unexpected rencontre, the Wall street 
broker, his generosity, arrival at the U. S. hotel. 

Chapter XIV. Proffered protection of a member of 
legislp.tme, it is realized, return to New York ; a United 
States Senator, a love scene, the good shepherd, a scene 
in the cars, Yankee hospitality, a speculator on widows, 
arrival in New York, protestations of a western mer- 
chant, flight, the effects of unrequited love, a few months 
quiet, return to Philadelphia, ill health, refuge in a 
Quaker family, a brother's neglect, generosity of a 
southern merchant, the States Treasurer and his protes- 
tations, the triumph of pride over poverty. 

Chapter XV. Kind friends, a summer's retreat at 
Burlington, the residence of the Knight of Laurel Hill ; 
a busy body in the shape of an attache of a Philadel- 
phia bank, masculine gossip on the steamboat Trenton, 
among a group of Philadelphia merchants ; the last 
effort of family pride, a rude landlady, flight to New 
York, alone and homeless, unexpected friends. 

Chapter XVI. Proferred hospitality, the haunt of a 
retired lottery broker, fashionable intrigue, academy of 
music minus harmony ; a show of generosity from the 
Astor House. A Finale. 



8 



APPENDIX. 

{Correspondence,) 

Exhibit A — Letter from F. B. to G. W.*, indorsed by A. h.) 
inception of the plot. 

£r Exhibit B. — Letter from F. B. to G. W.*, continuation of 
conspiracy. 

Exhibit C— Letter from F. B. to G. W.* bribery and plan 
for false imprisonment. 

Exhibit D. — Letter from F. B» to G. W.* a Newport lawyer 
retained. 

Exhibit E.— Letter from F. B. to G. W.* congratulatory J 
the plot successful. 

Exhibit F.— Letter from F. B. to G. W.* fright; desires to 
take the 'insane patient' South. 

Exhibit G.— Letter from F. B. to G. W.* bill presented ; 
trouble. 

Exhibit H. — Letter from F. B. to G. W.*, sanity and insan- 
ity incompatible ; divorse frustrated. 

Exhibit I. — Letter from F. B. to G. W., contention, quandary 

Exhibit J.— Letter from F. B. to G. W.*, second effort at 
false imprisonment. 

Exhibit K.~- Letter from G. W. * to F. B-, declining partici. 
pation. 

Exhibit L,— Letter from M. D. S. to a country squire ; 
Quaker Jesuitism. 

Exhits M- N. O. P. Q.— Letters from Mac .... 

Exhibits B. S. T. U. V., peculiar specimens of family policy 
and family affection, 

The publication premised, of which the above is an imper- 
fect synopsis, contains years of persecution, suffering and 
wrong, instigated by pride, and perpetuated by malice. It will 
fee published wholly on the responsibility of the authoress, and 
will comprise a perfeci elucidation of all matters referred to 
in the above. 



STARTLING INCIDENTS 

IN THE 

LIFE OF A LADY, 

COMPRISING A THRILLING 

ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE; 

"Our acts our angels are, for good or ill, 
Oar fatal shadows that walk by Us still." 

"There's a divinity who shapes our ends, 
Rough hew them as we will." 

Shaks. 

To do justice to one's own biography is said to be 
quite as difficult as for the anatomist to pursue the deli- 
cate operations of his art by dissecting the abstruse 
developments, and connections identified with bis own 
body , and if so, how difficult is my task, laying no claim 
to " the pen of the ready writer," and moreover, being 
well nigh paralyzed with anxiety and trouble ? How- 
ever,with Honesty for my purpose, and Truth as my shield, 
I shall proceed to give a " synopsis" of my eventful life, 
defining at the same time my present position, identified 
with the bitter experiences of the pa^t, and the parties 
connected therewith. 1 am perfectly well aware that 
Woman has but little to expect from public patronage or 
public sympathy, and in regard to private charity, its 
exhibitions, like angel's visits, are few and far between. 
As one, being alone, therefore, 1 submit this brochure, to-> 
gether with myself, to the limited patronage and maugre 
charity which is ever the rewaid of a comparatively 
friendless woman ! 

The painful experience of over thirty summers enables 
rr.e to make a truthful expose of the many abuses of 
power which arise from the ever denied but too often 
exemplified motto of" Might over right, and wealth over 
weakness." And the reader, in order to appreciate my 
design, must not fail to keep this point in view, for it 
cannot be expected that ihe life or history of a friendless 
victim of family per-ecution ca:« abound in brilliant 
episodes, or recommend itself for any drapery save that 



10 



of the sombre hue which ever enshrouds the frigid form 
of Misfortune. The chief merit of my publication, there- 
fore, must only be sought in the integrity of my motives ;. 
and in degree as 1 am enabled to unmask successful vii- 
lany, and tear asunder the gauze work which too often 
hides the deep-dyed knave, by the outward seeming of 
sanctity, let me be adjudged. I am aware there are 
many narrow-minded individuals, and perhaps some to 
whom I am personally known, who may chance to scan 
these pages, who consider the exile from wealthy rela- 
tives must needs be a victim of vice. Such individuals 
are too prone to forget that the mantle of Opulence is not 
unfrequently sufficiently thick to hide the most unseemly 
outlines of moral deformity, and moreover, in everyday 
life where the starving mendicant suffers " condign pun- 
ishment" for stealing a loaf of bread to extend the atten- 
uated thread of life, the wholesale swindler who robs by 
tens of thousands, and changes the scenes of comfort and 
competence to that of starvation and want, is received 
in the very bosom of our " best circles," while the hun- 
ger-impelled purloiner of a "fip" is consigned to a dreary 
cell. In my early life I was deprived of the protection 
of a kind father, and the remnant of a widow's portion 
was at once appropriated by a wealthy uncle. The 
kindest attention and fraternal devotion of my two broth- 
ers atiorded all the immunities and endearments of a home 
until matrimony divided the sisters. In regard to my 
own marriage, it was like many others, more a matter of 
interest than an affair of the affections, and superin- 
duced for the benefit of those sisters who are now 
in circumstances of affluence, and who forget, in the 
midst of their prosperity, one who sacrificed herself for 
their aggrandizement 

The mercantile misfortunes of my husband was in- 
creased by the neglect of my brother Chas. L Hoppin, 
of Mobile, who involved him in great loss; and, after 
this, his political success induced him to forget his obli- 
gations to his sister, who afforded his mother a home in 
the day of adversity. The ill health of my husband 
caused him greater misfortune, and the fatigue of nurs- 
ing him so prostrated me that a severe illness was the 
result ; while the unpopularity of my husband, whose 
ill health and taciturn manner made it difficult for me 



11 



to contend with circumstances of family disaffection. 
\Vhile laboring under these circumstances, Minor C. 
Story, proffered his family friendship. I at once accept- 
ed his invitation to pass the summer with his family at 
Pougbkeepsie. This at once was a "" fire brand" for 
the lovers of scandal, and my visit was one of vexation ; 
my family incensed at a friendship formed for a family 
whom they esteemed as too democratic, hastened to in- 
carcerate me, as a punishment for adopting new friends, 
though they grew cold and forgot a sister who had be- 
come poor in purse, notwithstanding they had enjoyed 
its fulness but a brief period before 

The policy of a wealthy family was easily carried out, 
and imprisonment in the Blockley Asylum for Insane, 
was chosen as a means to still the clamor of the scan- 
dal loving. This, considered as a family conspiracy, 
deserves commendation for its adroitness. A corres- 
pondence will be published which will explain the 
phases of this affair at that time 

The interest that Frederick Brown, of Philadelphia, 
had, as one of the managers of the institution, and his 
money as a passport, suited the empty purse of my hus- 
band ; also, the eager desire for placing Mr. Brown 
under obligation to benefit the institution — " The hobby" 
of his intimate friend Dr Kirkbride. All these reasons 
prompted Mr. Brown in his scheme. It was success- 
ful , and fourteen months of imprisonment, gave a 
sane inmate like myself, an opportunity to observe 
the abuses of this institution, calculated, and be- 
lieved to be, the most perfect of its kind in the United 
States. The refusal of my husband to m^et my bills, 
and also the death of my revered brother-in-law, Alex- 
ander Lardner, threw the responsibility on Frederick 
Brown. After a series of family discussions, I was 
allowed to leave the institution, under the protection of 
Mr. William Malin, a kind. j_;ood man. Fourteen months 
of perfect seclusion, varied only by tears End entreaties 
for release, prayers and explanations to the managers, 
for reparation of wrong, requests, and labor of letter 
writing to those I thought would rescue me, and those 
missives placed into the hands ot Frederick Brown, with 
sham promises of Dr. Kirkbride, that they would reach 
their places of destination, was all that varied the mon- 



12 



fttony of my imprisonment. The interest that I took in 
the suffering inmates beguiled my time at intervals, but 
the jealousy of the attendants was a drawback to many 
kindnesses 1 mi^ht have administered. I sought refuge 
from scandal in a country village, in ' lareellus, New 
York State. Hut, alas! family persecution was not 
satisfied, although my fingers plied the needle in behalf 
of the sisters, who disdained their notice. Again they 
sought to place me in the Butler Asylum in Miode Is- 
land—feeing the proverbially miserly pastor in whose 
house I resided— this 1 found subsequently. But my 
husband would not sanction, and Frederick Brown 
would not, and dared not, assume the responsibility. 
Privations, and disgust at the persecuting scandal of a 
country village, induced me to seek protection in my 
native place again, not however, forgetting those kind 
people who sympathized with me in the sweet little vil- 
lage of JVJareellus. Without means of travel I passed 
the last three months of the fourteen in Marcellus in 
getting together by industry $ 15, to take me from this 
tortuous life, and to reach Rhode Island once more 
Again a sick husband was sought, the anger of my 
family increased, and the meagre pittance of $1,50 per 
week and cast off clothing, was denied me, and my 
husband insulted for receiving me, as they subsequently 
met him, and even refused recognition. After perfect 
seclusion of eight months in a private boarding-house in 
Providence, which time I devoted to nursing my invalid 
husband ; the prospect of his death being certain to 
himself, and observing that my family persevered in their 
hostile position, I proposed to take the remnant of the 
$300 my cousin, Edward Carrington, of Providence, 
promised me, (which he paid in instalments,) and go to 
Philadelphia, to learn a trade for my maintenance, for 
this was my only hope for the iuture. My dying hus- 
band accompanied me. I at once sought the mantua- 
maker, and after passing a month in a close workroom 
during the day, and nursing during the night, I found 
my time w r as consumed to little advantage My husband 
left me, although very feeble, and against the orders of 
his physician, who said he could not live but a very 
short time, but a small sum he might get for his services 
in the custom house at Providence, induced him to iace 
death. 



13 



At this time, Charles Maccalaster, of Philadelphia, 
sought me. I received a note from him, requesting me 
to meet him at the corner of Ninth and Maiket streets ; 
not deeming this a very proper mode of receiving his 
patronage, I replied to his note saying, I would see him 
at my boarding hou^e in Chestnut street, as my days 
were passed at work in different families. I gave him 
permission to call during the evenings. I found Mr. 
Maccalaster very ardent in his protestations, at the same 
time he offered his services in negotiating a family re- 
conciliation ; this I said would be fruitless. After a lapse 
of time, he said my brother-in-law, Frederick Brown, 
said he would not do any thing ior me as long as I re- 
mained in the city. I at once decided to learn the mil- 
linery business, and entered upon my term of work with 
earnest zeal. I succeeded in perfecting myself, so my 
employer allowed me a small sum for my daily services. 
My husband returning in December, to Philadelphia, so 
ill that I was obliged to relinquish my situation in the 
millinery for the sick room ; the prospect of a long cold 
winter and small means, induced the kind landlady to 
give us comfortable accommodations in her very delight- 
ful boarding house. The remnant of the $300 was due 
by promise, but, alas! May Humphries of Philadelphia, 
wrote to Mr. Carrington, not to send us, as we were 
not deserving. This was astounding ! and as the weep* 
ing invalid read the letter of denial, I proposed to bor- 
row a small sum sufficient to pay one month's board, 
and then he would be obliged to seek his home in the 
inclement weather of February, 1852, leaving me pen- 
niless. After this I sought legal advice of Mr. John 
R. Vcgdes, of Philadelphia, as Mr. Chas. Maecalaster 
had called again and urged his suit ; and besides this, 
urged me to go to California. This I refused to do as 
long as my husband lived. My husband had told me 
he would sanction a suit to recover damages for slander 
and false imprisonment, against Frederick Brown and 
others. This the kind good lawyer thought might be 
compromised, and he introduced me to Mr. Read, the 
attorney-general. Frederick Brown then proposed to 
meet me at Mr. Vogdes' office to adjust the matter, and 
subsequently withdrew the offer, as his wife, Mrs. Char- 
lotte A, Brown, opposed it. At this juncture, rxy hus- 



14 



band grew sicker and died, Mr. Vogdes gave me means ; 
to go to him, as he wrote me he was dying. I shall 
never forget his kindness. I reached my husband's 
desolate death chamber, after travelling alone from Phi- 
ladelphia. Again did I address relatives stating our 
poverty, but in vain ! no response. As soon as my hus- 
band's relatives had laid his mortal remains in their 
proper resting place, I sought Philadelphia. Again I 
wrote Mr. Vogdes that I desired his protection. I was 
alone — he was kind, and on my arrival, a place of board 
was found at Mrs. Birkhead's, in Chestnut street. Again 
1 sought my family : I wrote to my mother to come and 
see me, she wrote me a polite note declining. The 
family with whom I made my home grew cold, as my 
relations did not notice me. Mr. Vogdes was censured 
for affording me protection, and to make the matter more 
sure, May Humphreys, my oldest sister's husband met 
Mr. Birkhead in the street, and said, " she is not worthy 
a home." At this crisis, the Matron of Blockley Hos- 
pital prevailed upon Mr. Brown to allow me $3 per 
week if she could prevail upon me to leave the city. 
This sum was to he placed in her hands, and I was not 
allowed the control of it. I of course consented, as Mr. 
Vogdes thought it might effect a family reconciliation. I 
sought the village on the Hudson. Again did I go through 
the routine of country gossip, the more quiet and reserved 
I was, greater was the censure. My friend signified to 
me if I would make a bill for clothing, of which I stood 
in need, that she would guarantee Frederick Brown 
would pay for it. Accordingly, I spent my time in re- 
pairing the deficiencies in my wardrobe ; but, as the 
Quaker lady had gone too fast, as Frederick Brown re- 
fused to pay the bill of $1G0, she gave the shopman 
the notice to secure himself; my wardrobe was attached, 
by first, the nephew of Mr. Gilbert requesting me to 
allow him to forward it to Philadelphia. To my aston- 
ishment I found I was without clothing, as every thing 
was confiscated, and never to this day has a vestige of a 
valuable wardrobe been recovered. 1 again turned my 
thoughts, after these disasters, to taking care of myself, 
comforting myself that my labors in the sick room of 
Mrs. Gilbert would remind them that their hospitality 
toad been my loss but was their gain-. I found, after- 

t 



15 



'Wards, that this manoeuvre was to get papers that Fred- 
erick Brown knew would fall into my hands at the' 
death of my husband. Those papers being the letters 
of agreement and scheme of placing me at Blockley 
Hospital. 

With tears of apprehension I saw my last §20 in my 
purse ; again I sought Mr. John R. Vogdes for advice ; 
again was I advised to go to New York ; he thought if 
Mr. Brown found I made an effort for myself, he might 
prevail upon him to do something permanently for me ; 
lone— New York was sought for this purpose also, to 
endeavor to induce Mr. Minor C. Story, (whose family 
I referred to as visiting Poughkeepsie,) to contribute 
something, as my family thought he ought, as they felt 
themselves aggrieved at his villainous endeavour to ruin 
me. I requested his presence — when he came, he at 
once said I will help you, and left me buoyed with the 
hope that I might at least command a few dollars for 
my immediate comfort. This was the last of this. 
Through the kiddness of a hotel proprietor, I found that 
Mr. Monot, of the New York hotel, wou'id receive me 
into the laundry for a while until I was promoted by a 
vacancy. 

I at once accepted the invitation, happy at the thought 
of earning my livelihood. Although the situation was 
a \ery laborious one, yet I was cheerful, and forgot 
other hardships. I was summoned to the parlor one 
evening after being there a fortnight, to receive a visit 
from John Cryder, of the firm of VYetmore & Cryder, 
of New York : I was astonished as the gentleman was 
a connexion of my family, he said he had heard of my 
being at service then, and proposed to give me the same 
sum that I received as wages if I would leave with him. 
I said I was earning my livelihood honorably, and I 
would not, and could not consent : he seemed very an- 
gry, and said he would punish me for a refusal. Two 
days after this, Mr. Monot called me to t him and said 
he would dispense with my services as he did not consi- 
der me competent. I at once asked him if he had not 
seen Mr. John Cryder - he seemed much confused, and 
said, " 1 w T ill not answer any questions." I fortunately 
had returned to me $40, from Peekskill, which I had 
sent to pay a part of the bill which Frederick Brown 



16 



refused (o pay for me, but the tradesman said he woulJ 
have nil or none. This sum took me to Boston, where 
1 thought I iright do something. 

Hon. John M. Wood presented me with $150, which 
I gladly received He advised me to seek New York 
again, and he would send me more Imagine my relief 
when 1 thoughi by his generosity I would be kept from 
the contact of tfarse perhaps not my inferiors, yet, those 
who were impertinent, because they thought I usurped 
their rights. Mv sojourn in New York, at Judson's 
hotel, for several months, was varied with repeated 
visits to Philadelphia. My trip to Boston was full of 
incident, which 1 would be glad to lay before my laugh- 
ter-loving readers, if I were not hurried in my time to 
place this statement before the public. Perhaps many 
I idies may understand, if (hey ever travelled alone, what 
I might relate, inasmuch as American gentlemen are 
proverbial for their gallantry. Any lady travelling 
alone will be sure to encounter some love-sick bachelor 
or adventurous married man, who would amuse them- 
selves harmlessly. I must here thank the married gen- 
tleman who offered me the nice repast of Connecticut 
doughnuts in the cars, in pity for my hunger, and as 
evidence of his admiral ion for widows, who confessed 
that he had consoled himself a few weeks before by 
plunging into the abyss of matrimony, and was luxuri- 
ating in the thought of a happy meeting at home, in- 
creased by a distribution of the good fare from Connec- 
ticut for the children ! And what shall I say to " the 
gocd shepherd," who seemed so generous, and who 
boasted of his political triumphs? May his hospitality 
be ever revered. I again returned to Philadelphia in 
hopes of meeting something in the way of lucrative eta* 
ployment. At this juncture another benefactor was 
added to my list, Edward Padelford, of Savannah, hear- 
ing of my privation sent me a handsome present ; several 
years had elapsed since I had seen him, but his generous 
heart prompted him to assist one whom he had known 
in her days of prosperity. 

As repeated changes had caused me illness, this "God 
send" was doubly acceptable. Often I met my sisters 
dressed in the extreme of fashion, and often did I hear 
of their magnificent gifts to almost strangers, at the 



1? 



same time refusing me a small sum to save me from 
begging, and not only was this denied me, but every 
effort was made by them to deprive me of friends whom 
I might make casually among the persons of respecta- 
bility I met in my home in a boarding house. As an 
evidence of this, having sought refuge for a few weeks 
in Burlington, for the purpose of seeing my mother, if 
possible, Frederick Brown was overheard in conversa- 
tion with a group of Philadelphia merchants, on board 
of the steamboat Trenton, accusing me of absolute in- 
justice and crime, and expressed to a person, a teller in 
one of the Philadelphia banks, his regrets that he had 
me as an inmate in the boarding place. The gossip 
continued, and the wives of a number of Philadelphians 
were on the tapis as rich subjects of speculation in this 
school for scandal. This, however did not affect my 
family taunts and insinuations. Returning to Philadel- 
phia, I bad then been a resident for one year and a half, 
my winter home was selected for a few weeks. 1 found 
my home pleasant , but the hostess, having met Mrs, 
Frederick Brown, she recommended that it wou'd be to 
her advantage to dismiss me from her house. This was 
accordingly done ; and only one day was given me for 
a choice of a home. With her pious invocation, God 
bless you, I left her home for New York. This driving 
me from my home was explained, as a worthy gentle- 
man had offered me money to go into business in Phila- 
delphia My sisters were horrified at the idea ; defama- 
tion, their usual resource in my case, was made manifest. 
One of my brothers-in-l?w visited the gentleman and 
said he would confer a favor on the family if he would 
withdraw his patronage. I will not weary my readers 
w T ith a recapitulation of those repeated endeavors to 
defraud me. Leaving so precipitately, my bills were 
left unpaid and my prospects ruined. 

My arrival in New York was anything but cheering. 
When the friend who escorted me bid me adieu at the 
hotel, my next thought turned to securing a comforta- 
ble and economical home, and having engaged my room 
(for this is deemed the most desirable manner of living, 
if alone, in New York,) inasmuch as there are ever to 
be found in boarding-houses or pretended homes, in- 
mates of a certain class who are always ready to cast 
opprobrium upon an unprotected lady, even if they are 



18 

compelled to look from the windows of glass houses 
themselves But I was alone, and this was enough. 
Why was I alone ? — let the Fates answer. Although 
I sought a quiet home, I was unfortunate in making the 
acquaintance of a highly respectable family, who had 
just escaped being placed in not a very enviable light 
before the public. To avoid this trap I sought another 
home. Contributions of distant friends, who always 
responded to my calls for help, made me comfortable — 
although a great number of my towns-people visited 
me, and in fact (so many called that I was annoyed,) 
yet I never met with any generous person among them j 
sympathy they proffered, but, alas ! who can live upon 
sympathy? I wrote to my cousin, Governor lloppin, 
of Rhode Island, that I was in need, but he never no- 
ticed my letters. The w r ealth of my family was my 
excuse for applying to them, but I have ever found 
strangers kinder than my relatives. At this crisis Mr, 
Win. H. Paine, of New York, introduced me to No. 13 
W T est 26th street, for the purpose of getting apartments. 
I went there and found myself soon quietly domesticated. 
At this time I was introduced to Mr John B. Stephens, 
of WaU street, New York, an intimate friend of t)r. 
Thiers, who was in the habit of visiting the house 
often, and had previously passed much of his time there. 
I mention this here, as 1 shall have occasion to speak of 
him in the narrative of facts in other pages. Dr. Thiers 
and family boarded at No 13 W T est 26th street. Mrs. 
Thiers was an invalid, and was accustomed to pass much 
of her time under her parental roof; my friends pur- 
posed assisting me, and as Dr. Thiers was seeking a 
location for his office, I agreed to take the upper part of 
a house, giving him the basement for an office. Almost 
immediately my friends were involved, with thousands 
of others at the time, in mercantile disasters, and my 
plans were frustrated and 1 w r as obliged to relinquish 
my part of the house to another who had the means to 
support it My health was suffering from the effects of 
repeated disappointments, so that I became very morose. 
During some domestic difficulty, the lady in the upper 
part of the house called in the police, and complained 
of me. The Doctor kindly got out a permit for insanity, 
but the police dragged me from the house in the most 
inhuman manner. Imagine my horror, my readers, 



13 



when they placed me in the tombs against Dr. Thiers' 
wishes — this I learned subsequently. This outrage is 
past credibility. The bruises on my person were seen 
by a number of persons afterward. One of the police- 
men who abused me was so full of alcohol that in my 
agony his breath was offensive On reaching the Tombs 
I was placed in the most repulsive room one could ima- 
gine; in my distress I called for a tumbler of water, the 
first salutation was " You get no tumblers here." Then 
I asked could I get anything to relieve me, for then I 
felt myself dying from suffocation and distress — " You'll 
get nothing here " I then asked, is there no physician 1 
No ! The bed was ot straw, covered with a grey horse 
blanket stuff, and as / lay upon it perfectly exhausted, 
the. smell of the vermin overpowered me. 

Mr Hemick K. Clarke and Governor Duke, one of 
the officers of the Alms House department came to my 
rescue; both with an exhibition of kindness. Rejoiced 
was I that I received the promise that I would not be 
carried to Bloomingdale. I did not see Dr. Thiers, na- 
turally supposing him hostile. The next morning I re- 
ceived a visit from Dr. Covil ; he tapped me on the 
shoulder, said I was a fine woman, and to render himself 
more agreeable stretched himself upon tny luxurious 
couch, lying upon his back, and continuing the conver- 
sation while 1 walked the room, not much facinated by 
the graceful of the " family physician." The visits of 
two phisycians were soon made, and I was pronounced 
sane. Then I looked for deliverance, but none came ; 
Dr Thiers was not allowed to visit me. On the after- 
noon of the 2d day, Governor Duke came to me, and 
said here is a ietter from Dr. Thiers for you, enclosing 
$5. He hfld it up to me and quietly put it in his 
pocket. He then said will you not let me see him to- 
night '? he said no. Can 1 write 1 Yes, Will you 
send it ? No. This was all the satisfaction I had on 
this subject, and this is the last I have seen of the five 
dollars and the note from Dr. Thiers, 

Governor Duke did not unite with Remiek K. Clarke 
in his views, as he had no malevolent feelings towards 
Dr. Thiers, though there seemed no clashing of opinion 
on the question, who had a right to release me from the 
prison. Mr. Clarke said he had the power of doing 
so, and Governor Duke said he only was the $ne 



20 



give the power for my removal. In the excitement I 
fell into, Remick K. Clarke's plan was, that I should 
make an affidavit implicating Dr Thiers, but with a 
promise from Remit k K. Clarke that 1 should be released 
from the prison, and that he would only scare the Doc- 
tor with it. In this chaotic state of mind, I did make 
an affidavit, which was false, and the purport of which 
was gotten by questions, and I did not know what 
Judge Pearcey wrote. Remick K. Clarke then offered 
his protection, asking Judge Pearcey where was a good 
place for me to board. Judge Pearcey at once gave a 
note to the proprietor of the Gramercey House, request - 
ing him to accommodate me, as a witness in an import- 
ant case I was at once sumptuously accommodated 
Remick K. Clarke visited me for a few days, afterwards 
I saw nothing more of him. Judge Pearcey commenc- 
ed his visits. He seemed to consider me his property, 
and suggested that 1 should leave the hotel in a very 
private manner, and change my name, and let no one 
know where I was but himself, and he would guaran- 
tee me $10 'per month for my maintenance. I was sur- 
prised, but consented, with the proviso 1 should select 
my home myself. This I was advised to do by a gen- 
tleman, an acquaintance of Judge Peaicey's, for the 
purpose of finding out his scheme. I applied to a gen- 
tleman, who Judge Pearcey advised me to go to, for the 
purpose of finding rooms, and this person told me to 
beware, as Judge Pearcey was a ver) bad man, and un- 
less I became his slave, he would visit vengeance upon 
me. I became watchful when he proposed a private 
family in 40th street. I did not consent. He then pro- 
posed I should v.o to Hartford with him on the coming 
Saturday, that Busteed and a number ot other lawyers, 
were going on a frolic and he had no doubt but that 
each one would have a " woman" with him I declined, 
as 1 did not see that it was very desirable. He then 
called again, and said that he was going by himself, and 
perhaps I would go. I declined a second time. 

Time passed on and my board bill increased. Judge 
Pearcey became alarmed at its increase. He came to 
me one evening and said, " I believe you said you had 
some valuables in pawn ;" I answered yes, " where are 
the tickets V I replied they are destroyed. Well, said 
lie, give me a li&t of them and I will give you the power 



21 



to get them. He made out the list, and I signed it ; 
but instead of giving me the paper he put it in his 
pocket and left me. A day after this occurred 1 met 
officer Webb, and in conversing with him about Judge 
Pearcey's proceedings, he replied " The Judge does not 
know what he is about half the time. Look here — 
here is a list of stolen property, and he came near com- 
mitting himself by this mistake, for he has accounted for 
the pawn tickets." To my utter astonishment I found 
in the list I gave Judge Pearcey the night before, which 
he offered to redeem forme with apparent generosity 
I exclaimed, how does Judge Pearcey dare do this? 
Officer Webb seemed much confused, and replied, 
" Perhaps I have mistaken his orders ;" but he had said 
enough to convince me that Judge Pearcey would use 
power to a bad purpose. I found it necessary to con- 
sult a legal adviser. I heard there was a Mr. Brr wn 
in the hoiel, and inquired for him ; the waiter came to 
me and said there was a Mr. Ackerly in the house, and 
he would call bim if I wished ; well, I replied, perhaps 
he will do as well. He came to my room and told me 
he was a friend of Judge Pearcey 's ; he would advise 
me, notwithstanding, impartially I told him that 
Judge Pearcey was acting unfairly, and of the circum- 
stance of my goods ; he seemed to be surprised, and 
offered to negotiate for me, as I did not desire to receive 
Judge Pearcey's visits. Immediately after this he called 
and asked me to make an assignment to Judge Pearcey, 
by his request, of those pawned articles, for the purpose 
of paying my hotel bill, for which he found himself re- 
sponsible; I replied, it is all I have of value, and I am 
very poor, you know, but I suppose the Judge expects 
this from me, though 1 did not ask him to put me in this 
expensive hotel and keep me here, I made the assign- 
ment as requested for the puipose of paying my bill at 
the hotel. Mr. Ackerly returned to me the next day, 
and said that he had ascertained from Henry Dwight, 
Jr., that he had been visited by Remick K. Clarke, and 
that he had represented that I had some claim, and 
wished him to meet it for me ; he had promised him 
$150 for me. This w T as astonishing, as 1 had no claim 
to be met, and had given R. M. Clarke no authority to 
do this ; he had absented himself from me since this 
transaction. Mr. Ackerly called again the next day to 



2t 



Mr. Dwight, who had promised him the money to pay 
my hotel bill, if he would come an hour in advance of 
R.M.Clarke; they accidc tly nut at Mr. Dwighfs 
office, and after a boisterous time, (as Mr. Ackerly re- 
presented,) to quell Remick K. Clarke's threatenings, 
Mr. Dwight gave him fifty dollars of the money to 
" hush? him, rather than have his name involved in this, 
affair ; R. M Clarke called, I was told, at the hotel, and 
used threatening language to Mr. Hines, the book keep- 
er, and insisted I should be turned out of the hotel. 
Judge Pearcey then held the rest of the money, as well 
as n.y jewelry and other articles, to the amount of $150, 
making in all $250, for a bill of $70. 

Officer Webb took a number of articles of furniture 
from me, as a purchase, with "promise to pay ; he paid 
$5, and nev r called to pay the rest. Thus far I was 
not benefitted, except that I ascertained that Judge 
Pearcey could make love, and combine love and gain 
in a finished manner, and by this had read another chap- 
ter, contaning anew phase in police affairs ; 1 found 
that although my bill was paid that I could make no 
arrangement with Judge Pearcey to get my pawned 
articles. Again I wrote a statement of the whole affair 
to Mayor Wood. He sent for Mr. Wright, the proprie- 
tor of the hotel, who corroborated all I had written. 
Mr. Wright told him I was unfairly treated. I called at 
the request of the Mayor at his office; he received me 
in a very gentlemanly manner, and said, at once, " You 
make some grave charges against the police " I replied 
yes, and 1 have stated the truth. After a number of 
questions he said he regretted he could not consider it 
advisable to see into this matter ; but Mr. W T right seemed 
friendly, and would advise me to trust to him. I re- 
turned to the hotel and saw Mr. Wright ; he ssaid he 
would give me a part of the bill which Mr. Dwight 
would pay for me ; this was a source of comfort. 

A few days elapsed, my bill was paid by Mr. Henry 
Dwight. Jr. I then thought Judge Pearcey would re- 
lease my jewelry, but, alas ! he still insisted upon hold- 
ing them I consulted Alderman Ely about the matter ; 
he visited Mrs Silver, the pawnbroker, who stated to 
him that an officer came and took them without paying 
the interest on them, and signified that there was some- 
thing wrong. I found Mr. Ackerly had told him I had 



23 



discovered his game, and after sending ^another person 
to Judge Pearcey, he abused me and said th t the silk 
was stolen. This he used as a plea for having the arti- 
cles in his hands 

The atrocity of this charge could only originate in a 
New York police officer, and one who had been accus- 
tomed, as Judge Pearcy had, to dealing with the inhab- 
itants of the Five Points, when he lived in Little Wa- 
ter street, as a supervisor of that district. See Trow's 
N, York City and Business Directory for 1855. This 
matter being hopeless, I tried to see Mr. Wright, the 
proprietor of the Gramercy House, who had promised 
me the money — a part of the bill paid by Mr. Henry 
Dwight — as Mr. Wright said he made the bill exorbit- 
ant, to get the money out of their hands to give me. I 
found, after repeated visits, that Mr. Ackerly was his 
spokesman; who told me that Ir. Wright had failed, 
and he could not do as he promised, and wished me to 
pay him $25 for his services. 

I exclaimed, when will this end? I have been im- 
prisoned, insulted, robbed by the police, accused of 
crmie, placed in an expensive hotel ; my friend Mr. 
Dwight rnbbed also Now you ask for $25 — what 
have yon done ? You hold for Judge Pearcey my goods, 
and will not return them to the pawnbrokers You 
know that I am penniless; what ran you do more than 
you have done ? VW11, he replied, I must be paid, and 
Judge Pearcey says he gave you $5 — he wants that 
This was given me to pay for damage of furniture 1 hat 
he requested to move as mine fiora 86 Lexington 
Avenue to his house, officer ■■ ebb superintend ng. fhis 
he did not get as officer Webb said he woul ; buy ihem, 
but, alas! officer Webb got off with the furniture by 
paying $5, and us n£ Judge Pearcey's name for dray- 
age. It is a pitv that Judge Pearcey and his attaches 
should be so penniless that prisoners, or others, that fall 
into their power, must be robbed to sustain them in their 
extravagances and amours. 

I hus lar I have made a plain statement of occurren- 
ces that have thrown me into great embarrassment and 
trouble, and 1 make this catalogue of events to piace 
before the public, a specimen of police craft and shys- 
ter diplomacy ; although, perhaps, this may be only as 
'* a drop in the bucket" of what might be shown iorth 



24 



to New Yorkers, of the system of robbery and fraud 
carried on by these men who profess better things. 

The question may be asked, why does Mrs. Taylor 
place herself before the public ? The question must at 
once be answered. Through family policy I am de- 
famed. Strangers make use of my misfortunes, and 
carry the matter farther ; they use me as a weapon to 
mortify a wealthy family. For instance, Judge Pear- 
ccy and others know I have wealthy relatives — if they 
get me into, difficulty, they, perhaps, may make some- 
thing by it, but if they fail they are safe, lor they say, 
her family have cast her upon the world, and they will 
not punish us. I only ask the public to read and see I 
can account for all my movements since I have been 
alone, and the statements of my family must be dis- 
proved, when they insist that I have led a dissipated life. 
Minor C. Story, with his constituents at the Astor House 
may thrive, but I have to inform Minor C. Story, that 
the Hon. John M. Wood, of Portland, Maine, has as- 
sisted me because of the knowledge of his rascality, and 
to screen one he was ashamed to mention as an asso- 
ciated partner of the firm of John M. Wood & Co. Mr. 
John B. Stephens, of Wall street, I must say, in his 
anxiety to deny his friendship, when I am in trouble, he 
is quite too precipitate ; he has accused me of an attempt 
to levy black mail, when my only offence is this, that I 
wrote him a note asking him to purchase a valuable 
diamond ring, which he had admired on my finder dur- 
ing a visit at Lexington Avenue ; at that time 1 needed 
the money more th&n the ring. 



